apogee INSTRUMENTS MQ-301X Line Quantum With 10 Sensors And Handheld Meter Owner’s Manual
- June 13, 2024
- apogee INSTRUMENTS
Table of Contents
- CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
- INTRODUCTION
- SENSOR MODELS
- SPECIFICATIONS
- DEPLOYMENT AND INSTALLATION
- BATTERY INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
- CABLE CONNECTORS
- OPERATION AND MEASUREMENT
- APOGEE AMS SOFTWARE
- MAINTENANCE AND RECALIBRATION
- TROUBLESHOOTING AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
- RETURN AND WARRANTY POLICY
- References
- Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
- Download This Manual (PDF format)
OWNER’S MANUAL
APOGEE LINE QUANTUM
Models MQ-301X and SQ-301X
Rev: 5-May-2022
APOGEE INSTRUMENTS, INC. | 721 WEST 1800 NORTH, LOGAN, UTAH 84321, USA
TEL: 435-792-4700 | FAX:
435-787-8268 | WEB:
APOGEEINSTRUMENTS.COM
Copyright © 2022 Apogee Instruments, Inc.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
EU Declaration of Conformity
This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the
manufacturer:
Apogee Instruments, Inc.
721 W 1800 N
Logan, Utah 84321
USA for the following product(s):
Models: MQ-301X, SQ-301X
Type: Line Quantum
The object of the declaration described above is in conformity with the
relevant Union harmonization legislation:
2014/30/EU Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive
2011/65/EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS 2) Directive
2015/863/EU Amending Annex II to Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS 3)
Standards referenced during compliance assessment:
EN 61326-1:2013 Electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory
use – EMC requirements
EN 50581:2012 Technical documentation for the assessment of electrical and
electronic products with respect to the restriction of hazardous substances
Please be advised that based on the information available to us from our raw
material suppliers, the products manufactured by us do not contain, as
intentional additives, any of the restricted materials including lead (see
note below), mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls
(PBB), polybrominated diphenyls (PBDE), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP),
butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisobutyl
phthalate (DIBP). However, please note that articles containing greater than
0.1 % lead concentration are RoHS 3 compliant using exemption 6c.
Further note that Apogee Instruments does not specifically run any analysis on
our raw materials or end products for the presence of these substances, but we
rely on the information provided to us by our material suppliers.
Signed for and on behalf of:
Apogee Instruments, May 2022
Bruce Bugbee
President
Apogee Instruments, Inc.
INTRODUCTION
Radiation that drives photosynthesis is called photosynthetically active
radiation (PAR) and is typically defined as total radiation across a range of
400 to 700 nm. PAR is often expressed as photosynthetic photon flux density
(PPFD): photon flux in units of micromoles per square meter per second (µmol
m-2 s-1, equal to microEinsteins per square meter per second) summed from 400
to 700 nm (total number of photons from 400 to 700 nm). While Einsteins and
micromoles are equal (one Einstein = one mole of photons), the Einstein is not
an SI unit, so expressing PPFD as µmol m-2 s-1 is preferred.
The acronym PPF is also widely used and refers to the photosynthetic photon
flux. The acronyms PPF and PPFD refer to the same parameter. The two terms
have co-evolved because there is not a universal definition of the term
“flux”. Some physicists define flux as per unit area per unit time. Others
define flux only as per unit time. We have used PPFD in this manual because we
feel that it is better to be more complete and possibly redundant.
Sensors that measure PPFD are often called quantum sensors due to the
quantized nature of radiation. A quantum refers to the minimum quantity of
radiation, one photon, involved in physical interactions (e.g., absorption by
photosynthetic pigments). In other words, one photon is a single quantum of
radiation.
Typical applications of quantum sensors include incoming PPFD measurement over
plant canopies in outdoor environments or in greenhouses and growth chambers
and reflected or under-canopy (transmitted) PPFD measurement in the same
environments.
Apogee Instruments MQ-301X line quantum consists of a separated sensor bar
with 10 sensors connected to a hand-held meter via cable. The SQ-301X line
quantum consists of the sensor bar with 10 sensors and pre-tinned pigtail
leads. The sensor housing design features an integrated bubble level to ensure
level deployment. The sensors consist of a cast acrylic diffuser (filter) and
photodiode, and the sensors are potted solid with no internal air space. The
meter provides a real-time PPFD reading on the LCD display and offers
measurements for both sunlight and electric light calibrations (menu
selectable) that determine the radiation incident on a planar surface (does
not have to be horizontal), where the radiation emanates from all angles of a
hemisphere. MQ X series line quantum meters include manual and automatic data
logging features for making spot-check measurements or calculating daily light
integral (DLI).
SENSOR MODELS
The Apogee MQ-310X line quantum meter covered in this manual is self-contained
and comes complete with a handheld meter and line of 10 sensors. The SQ-301X
line quantum sensor comes with a line of 10 sensors and pretinned pigtail
leads.
Line quantum sensors provide spatially averaged PPFD measurements. All sensors
along the length of the line are connected in parallel, and as a result,
Apogee line quantum meters display PPFD values that are averaged from the
location of the individual sensors.
A sensor’s model number and serial number are located near the pigtail leads
on the sensor cable. If you need the manufacturing date of your sensor, please
contact Apogee Instruments with the serial number of your sensor.
A meter’s model number and serial number are located on a label on the backside of the handheld meter.
SQ-310X: Line quantum with 10 sensors and cable with pre-tinned pigtail leads
MQ-310X: Line quantum with 10 sensors and handheld meter
SPECIFICATIONS
| MQ-301X| SQ-301X
---|---|---
Sensitivity| –| 0.1 mV per µmol m -2 -1 s
Calibrated Output Range| –| 0 to 250 mV
Calibration Uncertainty| ± 5 % (see calibration Traceability below)
Measurement Repeatability| Less than 0.5 %
Long-term Drift (Non-stability)| Less than 2 % per year
Non-linearity| Less than 1 % (up to 2500 µmol m-2 -1 s)
Response Time| Less than 1 ms
Field of View| 180°
Spectral Range| 370 to 650 nm (wavelengths where response is greater than 50 %
of maximum;
see Spectral Response graph)
Directional (Cosine) Response| ± 5 % at 75° zenith angle (see Cosine Response
graph)
Temperature Response| -0.04 % per C
Operating Environment| -10 to 60 C; 0 to 100 % relative humidity; sensor can
be submerged in water up to
depths of 30 m
Meter Dimensions| 113.9 mm height; 59.9 mm width|
Sensor Dimensions| 616.4 mm length, 13.6 mm height, 16.5 mm width
Mass| 460 g| 310 g
Cable| 2 m of shielded, twisted-pair wire; TPR
jacket (high water resistance, high UV
stability, flexibility in cold conditions)| 5 m of two conductor, shielded,
twistedpair
wire; TPR jacket; pigtail lead wires; stainless steel,
M8 connector located 25 cm from sensor head
Calibration Traceability
Apogee SQX series quantum sensors are calibrated through side-by-side
comparison to the mean of four transfer standard quantum sensors under a
reference lamp. The reference quantum sensors are recalibrated with a 200 W
quartz halogen lamp traceable to the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST).
Spectral Response
Mean spectral response of four SQ-100X series quantum sensors compared to PPFD weighting function. Spectral response measurements were made at 10 nm increments across a wavelength range of 350 to 800 nm in a monochromator with an attached electric light source. Measured spectral data from each quantum sensor were normalized by the measured spectral response of the monochromator/electric light combination, which was measured with a spectroradiometer.
Cosine Response
Directional (cosine) response is defined as the measurement error at a specific angle of radiation incidence. Error for Apogee SQ100X series quantum sensors is approximately ± 2 % and ± 5 % at solar zenith angles of 45° and 75°, respectively.
Mean cosine response of five SQ100X series quantum sensors.
Cosine response measurements were made by direct side-by-side comparison to
the mean of seven reference SQ-500 quantum sensors.
DEPLOYMENT AND INSTALLATION
Apogee MQ X series line quantums are designed for spot-check measurements, and
calculation of daily light integral (DLI; total number of photons incident on
a planar surface over the course of a day) through the built-in logging
feature. To accurately measure PFFD incident on a horizontal surface, the
sensor bar must be level.
Line quantum sensors are leveled using the built-in bubble level located in
the handle of the sensor. In addition to leveling, all sensors should also be
mounted such that obstructions (e.g., weather station tripod/tower or other
instrumentation) do not shade the sensor.
NOTE: The handheld meter portion of the instrument is not waterproof. Do
not get the meter wet or leave the meter in high humidity environments for
prolonged periods of time. Doing so can lead to corrosion that could void the
warranty.
BATTERY INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screw from the battery cover on the meter. Remove the battery cover by slightly lifting and sliding the outer edge of the cover away from the meter. To power the meter, slide the included battery (CR2320) into the battery holder, after removing the battery door from the meter’s back panel.
The positive side (designated by a “+” sign) should be facing out from the
meter circuit board.
NOTE: The battery cradle can be damaged by using an incorrectly sized battery.
If the battery cradle is damaged, the circuit board will need to be replaced
and the warranty will be void. To avoid this costly problem, use only a CR2320
battery.
Battery Removal
Press down on the battery with a screwdriver or similar object. Slide battery
out.
If the battery is difficult to move, turn the meter on its side so that the opening for the battery is facing downward and tap the meter downward against an open palm to dislodge the battery enough so that it can be removed with your thumb to slide the battery out of the battery holder.
CABLE CONNECTORS
Apogee sensors offer cable connectors to simplify the process of removing
sensors from weather stations for calibration (the entire cable does not have
to be removed from the station and shipped with the sensor).
The ruggedized M8 connectors are rated IP68, made of corrosion-resistant
marine-grade stainless-steel, and designed for extended use in harsh
environmental conditions.
Instructions
Pins and Wiring Colors: All Apogee connectors have six pins, but not all pins
are used for every sensor.
There may also be unused wire colors inside the cable. To simplify datalogger
connection, we remove the unused pigtail lead colors at the datalogger end of
the cable.
If a replacement cable is required, please contact Apogee directly to ensure
ordering the proper pigtail configuration.
Alignment: When reconnecting a sensor, arrows on the connector jacket and an
aligning notch ensure proper orientation.
Disconnection for extended periods: When disconnecting the sensor for an extended period of time from a station, protect the remaining half of the connector still on the station from water and dirt with electrical tape or other method.
Tightening: Connectors are designed to be firmly finger-tightened only. There is an o-ring inside the connector that can be overly compressed if a wrench is used. Pay attention to thread alignment to avoid cross-threading. When fully tightened, 1-2 threads may still be visible.
OPERATION AND MEASUREMENT
Connect the sensor to a measurement device (meter, datalogger, controller)
capable of measuring and displaying or recording a millivolt signal (an input
measurement range of approximately 0-500 mV is required to cover the entire
range of PPFD from the sun). In order to maximize measurement resolution and
signal-to-noise ratio, the input range of the measurement device should
closely match the output range of the quantum sensor. DO NOT connect the
sensor to a power source. The sensor is self-powered and applying voltage will
damage the sensor.
Wiring for SQ-301X:
MQ X series line quantum meters are designed with a user-friendly interface
allowing quick and easy measurements.
Press the power button to activate the LCD display. After two minutes of non-
activity the meter will revert to sleep mode and the display will shut off to
conserve battery life.
Press the mode button to access the main menu, where the appropriate
calibration (sunlight or electric light) and manual or automatic logging are
selected, and where the meter can be reset.
Press the sample button to log a reading while taking manual measurements.
Press the up button to make selections in the main menu. This button is also
used to view and scroll through the logged measurements on the LCD display.
Press the down button to make selections in the main menu. This button is also
used to view and scroll through the logged measurements on the LCD display.
The LCD display consists of the total number of logged measurements in the upper right-hand corner, the real-time PPFD value in the center, and the selected menu options along the bottom.
Calibration: To choose between sunlight and electric light calibration,
push the mode button once and use the up/down buttons to make the appropriate
selection (SUN or ELEC). Once the desired mode is blinking, press the mode
button three more times to exit the menu.
Logging: To choose between manual or automatic logging, push the mode
button once and use the up/down buttons to make the appropriate selection
(SMPL or LOG). Once the desired mode is blinking, press the mode button two
more times to exit the menu. When in SMPL mode press the sample button to
record up to 99 manual measurements (a counter in the upper right-hand corner
of the LCD display indicates the total number of saved measurements). When in
LOG mode the meter will power on/off to make a measurement every 30 seconds.
Every 30 minutes the meter will average the sixty 30 second measurements and
record the averaged value to memory. The meter can store up to 99 averages and
will start to overwrite the oldest measurement once there are 99 measurements.
Every 48 averaged measurements (making a 24-hour period), the meter will also
store an integrated daily total in moles per meter squared per day (mol m-2
d-1).
Reset: To reset the meter, in either SMPL or LOG mode, push the mode
button three times (RUN should be blinking), then while pressing the down
button, press the mode button once. This will erase all the saved measurements
in memory, but only for the selected mode. That is, performing a reset when in
SMPL mode will only erase the manual measurements and performing a reset when
in LOG mode will only erase the automatic measurements.
Review/Download Data: Each of the logged measurements in either SMPL or LOG
mode can be reviewed on the LCD display by pressing the up/down buttons. To
exit and return to the real-time readings, press the sample button. Note that
the integrated daily total values are not accessible through the LCD and can
only be viewed by downloading to a computer.
Downloading the stored measurements will require the AC-100 communication
cable and software (sold separately). The meter outputs data using the UART
protocol and requires the AC-100 to convert from UART to USB, so standard USB
cables will not work. Set up instructions and software can be downloaded from
the Apogee website (http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/ac-100-communcation-
cable/).
Sensor Calibration
The MQ-301X quantum X line sensors have a standard PPFD calibration factor
of exactly: 10.0 µmol m-2 s-1 per mV
Multiply this calibration factor by the measured mV signal to convert sensor
output to PPFD in units of µmol m-2 s-1: Calibration Factor (10.0 µmol m-2 s-1
per mV) Sensor Output Signal (mV) = PPFD (µmol m-2 s-1)
10.0 200 = 2000
Example of PPFD measurement with an Apogee quantum sensor. Full sunlight yields a PPFD on a horizontal plane at the Earth’s surface of approximately 2000 µmol m-2 s-1. This yields an output signal of 200 mV. The signal is converted to PPFD by multiplying by the calibration factor of 10.00 µmol m-2 s-1 per mV.
Spectral Error
Apogee SQ-301X sensors can measure PPFD for sunlight and electric light with a
single calibration factor. However, errors occur in various light sources due
to changes in spectral output. If the light source spectrum is known, then
errors can be estimated and used to adjust the measurements. The weighting
function for PPFD is shown in the graph below, along with the spectral
response of Apogee MQ-301X series quantum sensors. The closer the spectral
response matches the defined PPFD spectral weighting functions, the smaller
spectral errors will be. The table below provides spectral error estimates for
PPFD measurements from light sources different than the calibration source.
The method of Federer and Tanner (1966) was used to determine spectral errors
based on the PPFD spectral weighting functions, measured sensor spectral
response, and radiation source spectral outputs (measured with a
spectroradiometer). This method calculates spectral error and does not
consider calibration, cosine, and temperature errors.
Federer, C. A., and C. B. Tanner, 1966. Sensors for measuring light available
for photosynthesis. Ecology 47:654657.
McCree, K. J., 1972. The action spectrum, absorptance and quantum yield of
photosynthesis in crop plants. Agricultural Meteorology 9:191-216.
Spectral Errors for PPFD Measurements with Apogee SQ-100X Series Quantum Sensors
Radiation Source (Error Calculated Relative to Sun, Clear Sky) | PPFD Error [%] |
---|---|
Sun (Clear Sky) | 0 |
Sun (Cloudy Sky) | 0.2 |
Reflected from Grass Canopy | 5 |
Reflected from Deciduous Canopy | 7 |
Reflected from Conifer Canopy | 7.3 |
Transmitted below Grass Canopy | 8.3 |
Transmitted below Deciduous Canopy | 8.4 |
Transmitted below Conifer Canopy | 10.1 |
Cool White Fluorescent (T5) | 7.2 |
Cool White Fluorescent (T12) | 8.3 |
Metal Halide | 6.9 |
Ceramic Metal Halide | -0.9 |
High Pressure Sodium | 3.2 |
Blue LED (448 nm peak, 20 nm full-width half-maximum) | 14.5 |
Green LED (524 nm peak, 30 nm full-width half-maximum) | 29.6 |
Red LED (635 nm peak, 20 nm full-width half-maximum) | -30.9 |
Red, Blue LED Mixture (80 % Red, 20 % Blue) | -21.2 |
Red, Green, Blue LED Mixture (70 % Red, 15 % Green, 15 % Blue) | -16.4 |
Cool White Fluorescent LED | 7.3 |
Neutral White Fluorescent LED | 1.1 |
Warm White Fluorescent LED | -7.8 |
Quantum sensors can be a very practical means of measuring PPFD and YPFD from multiple radiation sources, but spectral errors must be considered. The spectral errors in the table above can be used as correction factors for individual radiation sources.
Underwater Measurements and Immersion Effect
When a quantum sensor that was calibrated in air is used to make underwater
measurements, the sensor reads low. This phenomenon is called the immersion
effect and happens because the refractive index of water (1.33) is greater
than air (1.00). The higher refractive index of water causes more light to be
backscattered (or reflected) out of the sensor in water than in air
(Smith,1969; Tyler and Smith,1970). As more light is reflected, less light is
transmitted through the diffuser to the detector, which causes the sensor to
read low. Without correcting for this effect, underwater measurements are only
relative, which makes it difficult to compare light in different environments.
The Apogee line quantum has an immersion effect correction factor of 1.15.
This correction factor should be multiplied to measurements made underwater.
NOTE: The handheld meter portion of the instrument is not waterproof. Do not
get the meter wet or leave the meter in high humidity environments for
prolonged periods of time. Doing so can lead to corrosion that could void the
warranty.
Further information on underwater measurements and the immersion effect can be
found at http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/underwater-par-measurements/.
Smith, R.C., 1969. An underwater spectral irradiance collector. Journal of
Marine Research 27:341-351.
Tyler, J.E., and R.C. Smith, 1970. Measurements of Spectral Irradiance
Underwater. Gordon and Breach, New York, New York. 103 pages
APOGEE AMS SOFTWARE
Downloading data to a computer requires the AC-100 communication cable and the
free ApogeeAMS software. The meter outputs data using the UART protocol and
requires the AC-100 to convert from UART to USB, so standard USB cables will
not work. The most recent version of ApogeeAMS software can be downloaded at
http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/downloads/.
When the ApogeeAMS software is first opened, it will show a blank screen until
communication with the meter is established. If you click “Open Port” it will
say “connection failed.”
To establish communication, make sure the meter is plugged into your computer using the AC-100 communication cable. To connect click the dropdown menu button and “COM#” options will appear. For more details on how to figure out which COM is the right one, watch our video.
When you have connected to the correct COM#, the software will say
“Connected”.
Click “Sample Data” to view saved sample readings.
“Daily Totals” shows all the saved Daily Light Integral (DLI) totals per day.
Click “30 Min Avg” to see the meter’s 99, 30-minute averages.
To analyze the data, click on “File” and “Save As” to save the data as a .csv
file.
Or you can highlight the numbers, copy, and paste them into a blank Excel
spreadsheet. Data will need to be comma delimited.
MAINTENANCE AND RECALIBRATION
Blocking of the optical path between the target and detector can cause low readings. Occasionally, accumulated materials on the diffuser of the upward- looking sensor can block the optical path in three common ways:
- Moisture or debris on the diffuser.
- Dust during periods of low rainfall.
- Salt deposit accumulation from evaporation of sea spray or sprinkler irrigation water.
Apogee Instruments upward-looking sensors have a domed diffuser and housing
for improved self-cleaning from rainfall, but active cleaning may be
necessary. Dust or organic deposits are best removed using water, or window
cleaner, and a soft cloth or cotton swab. Salt deposits should be dissolved
with vinegar and removed with a cloth or cotton swab. Salt deposits cannot be
removed with solvents such as alcohol or acetone. Use only gentle pressure
when cleaning the diffuser with a cotton swab or soft cloth to avoid
scratching the outer surface. The solvent should be allowed to do the
cleaning, not mechanical force. Never use abrasive material or cleaner on the
diffuser.
Although Apogee sensors are very stable, nominal calibration drift is normal
for all research-grade sensors. To ensure maximum accuracy, recalibration
every two years is recommended. Longer time periods between recalibration may
be warranted depending on tolerances. See the Apogee webpage for details
regarding return of sensors for recalibration
(http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/tech-support-recalibration-repairs/).
To determine if your sensor needs recalibration, the Clear Sky Calculator
(www.clearskycalculator.com) website
and/or smartphone app can be used to indicate the total shortwave radiation
incident on a horizontal surface at any time of day at any location in the
world. It is most accurate when used near solar noon in spring and summer
months, where accuracy over multiple clear and unpolluted days is estimated to
be ± 4 % in all climates and locations around the world. For best accuracy,
the sky must be completely clear, as reflected radiation from clouds causes
incoming radiation to increase above the value predicted by the clear sky
calculator. Measured values of total shortwave radiation can exceed values
predicted by the Clear Sky Calculator due to reflection from thin, high clouds
and edges of clouds, which enhances incoming shortwave radiation. The
influence of high clouds typically shows up as spikes above clear sky values,
not a constant offset greater than clear sky values.
To determine recalibration need, input site conditions into the calculator and
compare total shortwave radiation measurements to calculated values for a
clear sky. If sensor shortwave radiation measurements over multiple days near
solar noon are consistently different than calculated values (by more than 6
%), the sensor should be cleaned and re-leveled. If measurements are still
different after a second test, email
calibration@apogeeinstruments.com
to discuss test results and possible return of sensor(s).
Homepage of the Clear Sky Calculator. Two calculators are available: one for quantum sensors (PPFD) and one for pyranometers (total shortwave radiation).
Clear Sky Calculator for quantum sensors. Site data are input in blue cells in
middle of page and an estimate of PPFD is returned on right-hand side of page.
TROUBLESHOOTING AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Verify Functionality
Pressing the power button on the meter should activate the LCD and provide a
real-time PPFD reading. Direct the sensor head toward a light source and
verify the PPFD reading responds. Increase and decrease the distance from the
sensor to the light source to verify that the reading changes proportionally
(decreasing PPFD with increasing distance and increasing PPFD with decreasing
distance). Blocking all radiation from the sensor should force the PPFD
reading to zero. Apogee SQ X series line quantum sensors are self-powered
devices and output a voltage signal proportional to incident PPFD. A quick and
easy check of sensor functionality can be determined using a voltmeter with
millivolt resolution. Connect the positive lead wire from the voltmeter to the
white wire from the sensor and the negative (or common) lead wire from the
voltmeter to the black wire from the sensor. Direct the sensor head toward a
light source and verify the sensor provides a signal. Increase and decrease
the distance from the sensor head to the light source to verify that the
signal changes proportionally (decreasing signal with increasing distance and
increasing signal with decreasing distance). Blocking all radiation from the
sensor should force the sensor signal to zero.
Battery Life
When the meter is maintained properly the coin cell battery (CR2320) should
last for many months, even after continuous use. The low battery indicator
will appear in the upper left hand corner of the LCD display when the battery
voltage drops below 2.8 V DC. The meter will still function correctly for some
time, but once the battery is drained the pushbuttons will no longer respond
and any logged measurements will be lost.
Pressing the power button to turn off the meter will actually put it in sleep
mode, where there is still a slight amount of current draw. This is necessary
to maintain the logged measurements in memory. Therefore, it is recommended to
remove the battery when storing the meter for many months at a time, in order
to preserve battery life.
Low-Battery Error after Battery Replacement
A master reset will usually correct this error, please see the master reset
section for details and cautions. If a master reset does not remove the low
battery indicator, please double check that the voltage of your new battery is
above 2.8 V, this is the threshold for the indicator to turn on.
Master Reset
If a meter ever becomes non-responsive or experiences anomalies, such as a low
battery indicator even after replacing the old battery, a master reset can be
performed that may correct the problem. Note that a master reset will erase
all logged measurements from memory.
Step 1: press the power button so that the LCD display is activated.
Step 2: Slide the battery out of the holder, which will cause the LCD display
to fade out.
Step 3: After a few seconds, slide the battery back into the holder.
The LCD display will flash all segments and then show a revision number (e.g.
“R1.0”). This indicates the master reset was performed and the display should
return to normal.
Error Codes and Fixes
Error codes will appear in place of the real-time reading on the LCD display
and will continue to flash until the problem is corrected. Contact Apogee if
the following fixes do not rectify the problem.
Err 1: battery voltage out of range. Fix: replace CR2320 battery and perform
master reset. Err 2: sensor voltage out of range. Fix: perform master reset.
Err 3: not calibrated. Fix: perform master reset. Err 4: CPU voltage below
minimum. Fix: replace CR2320 battery and perform master reset.
Compatible Measurement Devices (Dataloggers/Controllers/Meters)
SQ X series line quantum sensors are calibrated with a standard calibration
factor of 10.0 µmol m-2 s-1 per mV, yielding a sensitivity of 0.1 mV per µmol
m-2 s-1. Thus, a compatible measurement device (e.g., datalogger or
controller) should have resolution of at least 0.1 mV in order to provide PPFD
resolution of 1 µmol m-2 s-1.
An example datalogger program for Campbell Scientific dataloggers can be found
on the Apogee webpage at http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/content/Quantum-
Sensor-Unamplified.CR1.
Cable Length
When the sensor is connected to a measurement device with high input
impedance, sensor output signals are not changed by shortening the cable or
splicing on additional cable in the field. Tests have shown that if the input
impedance of the measurements device is greater than 1 mega-ohm there is
negligible effect on the calibration, even after adding up to 100 m of cable.
All Apogee sensors use shielded, twisted pair cable to minimize
electromagnetic interference. For best measurements, the shield wire must be
connected to an earth ground. This is particularly important when using the
sensor with long lead lengths in electromagnetically noisy environments.
Modifying Cable Length
Although it is possible to splice additional cable to the separate sensor of
the appropriate SQ X model, note that the cable wires are soldered directly
into the circuit board of the meter. Care should be taken to remove the back
panel of the meter in order to access the board and splice on the additional
cable, otherwise two splices would need to be made between the meter and
sensor head. See Apogee webpage for further details on how to extend sensor
cable length: (http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/how-to-make-a-weatherproof-
cable-splice/).
Unit Conversion Charts
Apogee SQ X series quantum sensors are calibrated to measure PPFD in units of
µmol m-2 s-1. Units other than photon flux density (e.g., energy flux density,
illuminance) may be required for certain applications. It is possible to
convert the PPFD value from a quantum sensor to other units, but it requires
spectral output of the radiation source of interest. Conversion factors for
common radiation sources can be found on the Unit Conversions page in the
Support Center on the Apogee website (http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/unit-
conversions/). A spreadsheet to convert PPFD to energy flux density or
illuminance is also provided on the Unit Conversions page in the Support
Center on the Apogee website (http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/content/PPFD-
to-IlluminanceCalculator.xls).
RETURN AND WARRANTY POLICY
RETURN POLICY
Apogee Instruments will accept returns within 30 days of purchase as long as
the product is in new condition (to be determined by Apogee). Returns are
subject to a 10 % restocking fee.
WARRANTY POLICY
What is Covered All products manufactured by Apogee Instruments are warranted
to be free from defects in materials and craftsmanship for a period of four
(4) years from the date of shipment from our factory. To be considered for
warranty coverage an item must be evaluated by Apogee.
Products not manufactured by Apogee (spectroradiometers, chlorophyll content
meters, EE08-SS probes) are covered for a period of one (1) year.
What is Not Covered The customer is responsible for all costs associated with
the removal, reinstallation, and shipping of suspected warranty items to our
factory. The warranty does not cover equipment that has been damaged due to
the following conditions:
- Improper installation, use, or abuse.
- Operation of the instrument outside of its specified operating range.
- Natural occurrences such as lightning, fire, etc.
- Unauthorized modification.
- Improper or unauthorized repair.
Please note that nominal accuracy drift is normal over time. Routine recalibration of sensors/meters is considered part of proper maintenance and is not covered under warranty.
Who is Covered
This warranty covers the original purchaser of the product or other party who
may own it during the warranty period.
What Apogee Will Do
At no charge Apogee will:
- Either repair or replace (at our discretion) the item under warranty.
- Ship the item back to the customer by the carrier of our choice.
Different or expedited shipping methods will be at the customer’s expense.
How To Return An Item
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Please do not send any products back to Apogee Instruments until you have received a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number from our technical support department by submitting an online RMA form at www.apogeeinstruments.com/tech-support-recalibration-repairs/. We will use your RMA number for tracking of the service item. Call 435-245-8012 or email techsupport@apogeeinstruments.com with questions.
-
For warranty evaluations, send all RMA sensors and meters back in the following condition: Clean the sensor’s exterior and cord. Do not modify the sensors or wires, including splicing, cutting wire leads, etc. If a connector has been attached to the cable end, please include the mating connector otherwise the sensor connector will be removed in order to complete the repair/recalibration. Note: When sending back sensors for routine calibration that have Apogee’s standard stainless-steel connectors, you only need to send the sensor with the 30 cm section of cable and one-half of the connector. We have mating connectors at our factory that can be used for calibrating the sensor.
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Please write the RMA number on the outside of the shipping container.
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Return the item with freight pre-paid and fully insured to our factory address shown below. We are not responsible for any costs associated with the transportation of products across international borders.
Apogee Instruments, Inc. 721 West 1800 North Logan, UT 84321, USA -
Upon receipt, Apogee Instruments will determine the cause of failure. If the product is found to be defective in terms of operation to the published specifications due to a failure of product materials or craftsmanship, Apogee Instruments will repair or replace the items free of charge. If it is determined that your product is not covered under warranty, you will be informed and given an estimated repair/replacement cost.
PRODUCTS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD
For issues with sensors beyond the warranty period, please contact Apogee at
techsupport@apogeeinstruments.com
to discuss repair or replacement options.
OTHER TERMS
The available remedy of defects under this warranty is for the repair or
replacement of the original product, and Apogee Instruments is not responsible
for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including but
not limited to loss of income, loss of revenue, loss of profit, loss of data,
loss of wages, loss of time, loss of sales, accruement of debts or expenses,
injury to personal property, or injury to any person or any other type of
damage or loss.
This limited warranty and any disputes arising out of or in connection with
this limited warranty (“Disputes”) shall be governed by the laws of the State
of Utah, USA, excluding conflicts of law principles and excluding the
Convention for the International Sale of Goods. The courts located in the
State of Utah, USA, shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any Disputes.
This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have
other rights, which vary from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction,
and which shall not be affected by this limited warranty. This warranty
extends only to you and cannot by transferred or assigned. If any provision of
this limited warranty is unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision
shall be deemed severable and shall not affect any remaining provisions. In
case of any inconsistency between the English and other versions of this
limited warranty, the English version shall prevail.
This warranty cannot be changed, assumed, or amended by any other person or
agreement
APOGEE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
721 WEST 1800 NORTH, LOGAN, UTAH 84321, USA
TEL: 435-792-4700
FAX: 435-787-8268 | WEB:
APOGEEINSTRUMENTS.COM
Copyright © 2022 Apogee Instruments, Inc.
References
- AC-100: Communication Cable - Apogee Instruments, Inc.
- apogeeinstruments.com/content/Quantum-Sensor-Unamplified.CR1
- Software Downloads - Datalogger Programs | Apogee Instruments
- How to Make a Weatherproof Cable Splice
- Recalibration and Repair | Apogee Instruments
- Underwater PAR Measurements | Apogee Instruments
- Unit Conversions | Apogee Instruments
- Clear Sky Calculator | Apogee Instruments Inc.
- Clear Sky Calculator | Apogee Instruments Inc.